I guess all I can add is "ditto" to everything John just said. :-)
Of all the impact reports we provide, we do have ONE fund that gets a
slightly enhanced report, because he's *that* donor. And it was that way
at my previous position as well.
Jennifer Boettger | Director of Advancement Services
Coe College Office of Advancement
1220 First Ave. NE | Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
jboettger@coe.edu | 319-399-8614
On Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 9:00 PM John Taylor <
johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com>
wrote:
> I believe you have introduced two very different topics.
>
> 1. Regarding endowment stewardship, I think it critically important to
> steward those directly responsible for funding the endowment. That
> absolutely would include the individual who applied to a DAF to distribute
> funds to you (and who no doubt specified what type of endowment - It is
> rare for a DAF to be so independently specific). This individual, not the
> corporate DAF entity, is the one who could likely direct or suggest future
> gifts to your institution. So to answer your question, no - I have no
> special rules for endowments funded by DAFs or private foundations. The
> individual taking action to make the gift happens deserves the report. Of
> course, the DAF should receive one as well - if, that is, they want one (I
> know that Fidelity and others have specifically told me to not send them
> such reports).
> 2. It seems that there might be a misunderstanding with this
> particular individual as to what standard reporting you provide to all of
> your donors. This is usually described at the outset when establishing the
> endowment (I gather this individual signed the endowment agreement
> stipulating to your annual report). If those expectations were not clearly
> set at the beginning then going forward I suggest the creation of an FAQ or
> donor guide to ensure they know what you will be delivering and when.
> Clearly what has been requested here is well outside the standards most of
> us follow. You state that what the donor has requested exceeds your
> policy. I suggest that the Development Officer for this donor share that
> policy with them and explain how providing anything more substantial will
> cause a lower return on investment - or perhaps a higher management fee on
> the endowment to provide non-standard reporting.
>
> On the 2nd point, I agree that sometimes exceptions are made for donors
> who have made significant contributions. We don't like them, but we do
> them. But those exceptions should be made by the VP being fully aware of
> the strain it will create for staff.
>
> John
>
> John H. Taylor
> Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting
> 2604 Sevier St.
> Durham, NC 27705
>
johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com
> 919.816.5903 (cell/text)
>
> Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 8:34 PM Deborah Brown <
browndl@cua.edu> wrote:
>
>> Dear Listers:
>> I am wondering how many of you out there in stewardship land have
>> different financial reports for donors who fund named endowment funds via a
>> DAF?
>> We have a tricky one, where the donor funds an endowed scholarship via
>> a DAF. The donor would like very detailed stewardship reports for the
>> endowment ( exceeding our policy) - such as month over month investment
>> earnings, and detail on expenses hitting the payout etc. . But in truth,
>> the actual "donor" is the DAF NOT the donor who recommended the DAF. The
>> DAF is therefore the donor of record and the only entity entitled to
>> reports. The donor to the DAF should only get a warm thank you and
>> something about the scholarship benefit to the student.
>>
>> I am therefore wondering: do you report differently to donors who
>> contribute to endowment funds via a DAF vs their own funds?
>>
>> Very tricky
>>
>> Deborah Brown
>> Associate Vice President
>> University Advancement
>> The Catholic University of America
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>
>